Sports news from Los Angeles and beyond

NHL deadline for qualifying offers approaches

June 27, 2011 | 1:08
pm

Another reminder that there’s really no off-season anymore in the NHL: Monday at 2 p.m. Pacific time is the deadline for clubs to extend qualifying offers to restricted free agents. Extending a qualifying offer ensures that a team retains negotiating rights to that player. Restricted free agents who don’t receive qualifying offers become unrestricted free agents.

The only player not receiving a qualifying offer was forward Rob Bordson, who was an unpublicized part of the trade that brought Mike Richards from Philadelphia. The Kings agreed to take his contract so the Flyers could remain under the maximum number of player contracts, but the Kings never mentioned him in their press release announcing the trade.

The Ducks haven’t announced their qualifying offers but it’s safe to guess they won’t extend one to forward Kyle Chipchura.

Next up on the NHL calendar is the Hockey Hall of Fame’s announcement Tuesday of its Class of 2011. Doug Gilmour and Joe Nieuwendyk are considered likely honorees. The announcement will be televised on the NHL Network starting at noon Pacific time.

Then on Friday the free agency period begins, and we’ll see how rich forward Brad Richards will become. Start with “very” as the jumping-off point.

In addition, teams are holding or will hold development camps for their draft picks and undrafted free agents. The Kings will hold their camp July 11-12 in El Segundo.